Search Light Install Prices?

[DiMisa1977]

I need a search light for night runs...called marine max, he quoted me around 1250? does that sounds like alot?

 

[comsnark]

I need a search light for night runs...called marine max, he quoted me around 1250? does that sounds like alot?

Well. . .considering they wanted $450 to install a GPS unit. . .that doesn't sound bad.

I would shop around more. $1250 sounds outrageous to me.

BTW: I often run at night. I only use the light to spot unlit markers. It is more important to have the markers plotted on your GPS unit. I never prowl unknown waters at night. At the start of each season, I do a tour of my common areas to specifically look for more of these navigation hazards. I am constantly on the watch for moved markers.

BTW: Using the light for any other purpose seems to do nothing more than wreck my night vision.

 

[boatrboy]

BTW: I often run at night. I only use the light to spot unlit markers. It is more important to have the markers plotted on your GPS unit. I never prowl unknown waters at night. At the start of each season, I do a tour of my common areas to specifically look for more of these navigation hazards. I am constantly on the watch for moved markers.

BTW: Using the light for any other purpose seems to do nothing more than wreck my night vision.

Ditto!

 

[Sea Gull]

Don't do it. The installed search lights are mostly useless. Get yourself a good handheld unit instead. The bow installed lights cause glare off the white gelcoat, and are slow to aim. Portable, cheap, quick and easy is the way to go.

 

[osd9]

Don't do it. The installed search lights are mostly useless. Get yourself a good handheld unit instead. The bow installed lights cause glare off the white gelcoat, and are slow to aim. Portable, cheap, quick and easy is the way to go.

I STRONGLY agree with Sea Gull.....I only use the bow mounted search light to shine in my neighbors windows when I come in late at night..... :grin: ....for any serious night navigation.....out comes the handheld....I have two on board....

 

[RiverRat]

In the 240 DA thread I posted how I installed an inexpensive spot light on my bow including instructions and pictures. It only cost me $160 for the light and it's a wireless remote so there's minimal wiring.

 

[comsnark]

I have not yet used the handheld on my boat. . .but I would imagine I cold only use it if

1) I tried to illumiate something off the starboard side or

2) some one holds it for me off the Starboard side, or goes to the bow with the light in hand.

Otherwise, it seems to me that the boat driver is too low and back in the the boat to use the light without reflection from the Gelcoat. My spot is mounted right forward, and only reflects back if I am aiming for something under 200 feet from the boat and dead ahead.

Yeah, the bow mounted light is slow. . .but in my mind if you need SPEED when searching for things in the water - -> you are probably doing something wrong (like. . .going too fast)

 

[osd9]

. .but in my mind if you need SPEED when searching for things in the water - -> you are probably doing something wrong (like. . .going too fast)

When looking for crab pots, or day markers, at night, especially at idle speed coming into or leaving a port, you need speed to constantly scan in front of you....I always have my look out "man" the hand held light.....he/she constantly scans in front of the boat when coming in/out at night.....my radar ususally, and I say usually, picks things up, but the light, with someone else controlling it, allows the captain (that would be me.... :grin: ) to concentrate on where he's going....

 

[DiMisa1977]

great advice. i am gonna pick one up for tonight's excursion...

 

[boatmailster]

I need a search light for night runs...called marine max, he quoted me around 1250? does that sounds like alot?

It depends on light installed
some of them (made in japan) go for over $1000 just for the unit itself
or you can buy cheaper one and install yourself.
some of them with wireless remote control requires only 2 wires run to light
http://www.magnalight.com/c-28-boat-spotlights.aspx

 

[shrike]

. .but in my mind if you need SPEED when searching for things in the water - -> you are probably doing something wrong (like. . .going too fast)

When looking for crab pots, or day markers, at night, especially at idle speed coming into or leaving a port, you need speed to constantly scan in front of you....I always have my look out "man" the hand held light.....he/she constantly scans in front of the boat when coming in/out at night.....my radar ususally, and I say usually, picks things up, but the light, with someone else controlling it, allows the captain (that would be me.... :grin: ) to concentrate on where he's going....

Great comment....even boating mag said to ignore the remote light as it is useless for practical purposes. On the intercoastal, I see the push boats using a hand guided spotlight - much like the hand operated light on a cop car. They can whip that beam around real fast.

 

[Sea Ray 300]

Don't do it. The installed search lights are mostly useless. Get yourself a good handheld unit instead. The bow installed lights cause glare off the white gelcoat, and are slow to aim. Portable, cheap, quick and easy is the way to go.

Possitively correct.
We never use the bow light, and wouldn't have ordered it, but it came with the boat.
Used the one on our old boat once, and then bought a portable.

 

[comsnark]

Huh. I must be the only person that LIKES the mounted spotlight.

It puts light forward. . .where I need it. I don't have to send someone forward with a spot to illuminate something in the forward quadrant. It doesn't reflect off of things on the boat.

Naturally, I carry a hand held as well (for illuminating things to my back) and as a backup. . but I have not used it uet.

Of course, I don't *rely* on the spot, but it is very handy for pinpointing markers and such. And thankfully. . .I don't have to worry about crabpots in my area.

 

[osd9]

It's not that we don't like the bow spot, it's should somebody invest $1600 to put one on......

I have the bow spot and use it occasionally (early morning hours before the sun comes up :grin: ) but if my boat didn't come with it, I wouldn't add it....especially for that kind of $$$$$.

Even with the bow mounted light, I use the handheld 95% of the time... :thumbsup:

 

[Hampton]

I had a 250 with a bow light for 10 years. We used it all of the time. Now, I have a 340 with a hand-held, and since we leave the eisenglass up, it just doesn't do the job. I just get light back in my face.

On my list of things to do is to add a bow light.

 

[Bottom Line]

I second the hand held...I have the bow spot light...but a hand held works much better.

 

[Presentation]

....Portable, cheap, quick and easy is the way to go.

I resemble that remark. :smt043